La chaste Suzanne

In the Old Testament Suzanne/Susanna was a faithful wife . On their way to a meeting two old judges secretly observed Susanna taking her bath in the garden. On her way back they threatened her to tell that she was meeting a young man in the garden if she didn't sleep with them.She refused and was sentenced to death by stoning, but still young prophet Daniel confounded both men who were executed and innocent chaste Suzanne was saved.

No hint at the Bible in the movie which remains,83 years later,a coarse comedy,heavy-handed , not always funny .Raimu ,a wonderful actor,is the only reason why you would sit through this farce .It's the remake of a silent movie,based on a play belonging to the French "théâtre de boulevard"

Monsieur Des Aubrais , an (apparently) holier-than-thou bourgeois,is a member of the "academy of virtue and good behaviour": they award a prize to the most virtuous girl of the year ,and today , her name is Suzanne .But the letter announcing the win is sent to a wrong Suzanne who is not a paragon of virtue.

This woman of easy virtue cheats on her husband, a military man ,with the fiancé of Mr Des Aubrais 's daughter.The virtuous daddy is adamant and asks his son to draw up a file on his future son-in-law :he demands a spotless reputation.

In fact ,Mr Des Aubrais is a hellraiser ,who spends many a night in Moulin Rouge where he entertains a bevy of pretty girls .All the characters but two (the officer and Aubrais's wife who will ungrudginly save the situation) meet in Moulin Rouge ,which spawns the usual cases of mistaken identities.

One third of the time is given over to old-fashioned songs and French can can. Only Raimu's completists should bother.